Pipe bender and straightener



1950 c. HIGHTOWER ET AL 2,497,500

PIPE BENDER AND STRAIGHTENER Filed May 5," 19 18 2 Shets-Sheet 1 ATI'D RN EYE IN VEN TORS Feb; 14, 1950 c. HIGHTOWER ET AL 294979509 PIPE BENDER AND STRAIGHTENER Filed May 5, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTORS A'ITD R N EYE Patented Feb. 14, 1950 PIPE BENDER AND STRAIGHTENER Corrie Hightower and Herold Springett, Quincy, 111.

Application May 5, 1948, Serial No. 25,134 1 Claim. (01. 15333) Our present invention relates to the general class of metal bending in which a three-point jack is utilized for curving as well as straightening metallic shapes. and more specifically to an improved manually operated pipe bender andstraightener in which a reciprocating bender with sliding or rolling side shapers is employed to impart a uniform bend to the work, as well as to accurately straighten a bent pipe;

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a portable and manually operated appliance of this .type, including preferabl a fluid pressure operated jack or motor, which may be manipulated with facility for creating and exerting a maximum power with a minimum effort or labor; and the appliance comprises a minimum number of component parts that may with facility be manufactured at low cost of production, and the parts may be assembled with convenience to insure a durable and efficient mechanism. Adjustable and interchangeable parts are utilized in adapting the appliance'for work on stock of various sizes and shapes, and while we have illustrated and referred to the bender as applied to cylindrical tubes or, pipes, it will be understood that-the bender is capableof bending, curving, and straightening other shapes of material.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as hereinafter described and more particularly set forth in the appended claim. In the accompanying drawings we have illustrated a complete example of a physical embodiment of our invention in which the parts are combined and arranged in accord with one mode we have devised for the practical application of the principles of our invention. It will however be understood that changes and alterations are contemplated and may be made in these exemplifying drawings and mechanical structures within the scope of our claim without departing from the principles of the invention.

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a bender embodying our invention, showing the appliance and a straight pipe in initial position for bending or curving the pipe; and Figure 2 is a similar view with the appliance in extended or projected position for bending a pipe.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the appliance.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the appliance with a curved pipe therein; and Figure 5 is a vertical'sectional view at line 55 of Fig. 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective view, and Figure 7 is a sectional view of a vise-block or joint-head of the bending frame.

In the physical embodiment of our invention we employ a base I, preferably of rectangular.- shape with upright flanges as a support for the x base frame. that includes'four upright posts 2,

which are bolted at 3 and united by horizontal cross bars 4, to form a broad bearing-support for the extensible and retractible bending frame of the appliance.

The pivotally mounted bending frame includes two pairs of links 5 and 6 that are pivotally mounted at I on the base frame, and the bolts I are enclosed by spacing sleeves Ia to stabilize? the outwardly flaring or diverging pairs of links.

The bending frame also includes two pairs of converging shaper arms or links 8 and 9 that are pivotally mounted at Ill, II], on the outer ends of the links 5 and 6, and as here shown the shaper arms are provided with shaping rollers II and I2 fashioned with exterior annular grooves adapted 4 .to ride down or roll upon the pipe P in the bending operation. 1 7

These laterally spaced sliding or rolling shapers provide two of the three points of the flexible bending frame for frictional engagement with the .pipe, and a third contact point is provided by the use of a vise-block or shoe I 3'WhlCh unites the inner ends of the pairs of shaper arms 'or levers:

8 and 9. The vise block, as seen in Fig. 6 is provided with bolt holes I4, and bolts I5 are passed through these holes and the adjoining ends of the shaper arms, with nuts I6 for securing the flexible joint in connection with the vise block or shoe.

As best seen in Fig. 7 the block or joint-shoe I3 is fashioned with a semi-circular or curved under surface I'I forming a concave seat or third point of maximum size for engagement with the outer surface of the pipe to be bent; and this seat may be adapted to engage pipes of smaller diameter by the utilization of interchangeable dies, as I8. The die I 8 in Fig, 7 is of concavoconvex shape and has a radius smaller than the seat I I of the block and this die is detachably fastened within the block as by means of screw I9.

In the bending, curving, or straightening operation on the pipe P the vise block I3 is pushed upwardly, and the shaper rollers I I and I2 are swung downwardly and inwardly from the position of Fig. l to the position of Fig. 2, and for this purpose a reciprocable presser head 20 is employed, and rigidly fastened to the vise block.

For this purpose the block I3 is provided with vertical side grooves 2| between the pivot bolts I5, I5, and these grooves accommodate compleface of the vise block, and when necessary or-de-- sirable the key may readily be released, to unlock the block from the bender head.

As best seen in Fig. 5 the bending or shaping head 20 is fashioned with a convex: seat 25.that

is concave in cross-section for pressing engagement with the inner side of the pipe to be shaped, and the radius of the curved surface 25 as well as the radius of the concave or groove of the head may be adapted to accommodate pipes of various diameters. In Fig. 5 it will be apparent that the bending head has tightly clamped the pipe againstthe vise block, and the shaper rollers or sliding shapers will swing the pipe into contact with the surface 25' to provide a bend or curve that is uniformly accurate and without Wrinkles. I

For projecting the bending head we have illustrated a manually operated fluid pressure, or hydraulic, jack of well known type that includes anupright cylinder 26 rigidly and centrally mounted upon the. base I, and provided with: a screw. bar 21: to which the head. 20 is aifixed in adjusted position; and a reciprocating plunger 28 which carries and moves with the screw bar. Bymeans of a manual: lever 29 pivotally mounted on the base at-30, and connections 3| to the in.-

terior of the hydraulic cylinder, the projection;

and: retraction of they bending head may readily be controlled:

As'indicated in Fig. 1 the pipe to be bent may be slipped endwise; into the: bending frame, and by the arrangement of the curved face or seat 25 of, the bending head 2D at the inner side of the bend, and thecomparativelystraight seat I! of the vise block, at the outer side of the bend, the pipe, P, may readily be bent Without flattening or other distortion, andthen readily removed,

from the appliance,

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a pipe bender, the combination of a base means, a pair of links pivoted to spaced portions of said base means, a pair of shaper arms, pivot means pivotally connecting said links with said shaper arms, respectively, shaping, rollers mounted on. said pivot: means, a:, block means, means pivoting opposite ends of said'bl'ock means to said shaper arms, respectively, said block means and shaper rollers being adapted to contact a pipe on the same side thereof, a shaping head having a presser face in opposed relationship with. said block means, said presser face being adapted to contact the said pipe at the side thereof oppositev to the side contacted by said block means and shaping rollers whereby a substantially'three-point engagement between the said pipe and the pipe bender is obtained, hydraulic means. mounted on said base means for moving, said bending; head-toward and from said base whereby; said shaper rollersswing the pipe:-

into contactv with said pressure face to, curve: the

- pipe.

CORRIE HIGHTOWERL. HERGLD. SPRINGETT.

REFERENCES, CITED The following references are of record in the file of. this patent:

UNITED STATES; PATENTS Number Name Date:

13.35349 Blakey i Dec. 31, 1872 389,495 Boyer. Sept. 11, 1888' 7519,760 Davis Feb; 3;. 19103 1',8 4=9,l8:li Francis1 Mar. 15; 1982'- 1',899 ,280 Lidseen Feb; 28; 193-3 1,906,392: McLeod? May 2, 1933' I FQREIGN' PATENTS Number- Country Date 2,482- Great Britain Jan; 30, 1902; 572,588 Germany Mar. 18'; 1933; 583,954 Germany Sept; 12,1933- 763,845. France ,Feb;.19; 1934 

